Benicia may move council elections to even-numbered years

BENICIA -- In an unusual move, City Council members will consider extending their terms by one year by changing the next municipal election to November 2014, and subsequent even-numbered years.

The council is set to discuss the idea Tuesday.

Benicia's city elections have been held in November of odd-numbered years since 1997.

"I think it is a really good idea," said Councilwoman Christina Strawbridge. "It not only would save the city money, but the turnout would be stronger. If we could do it countywide that would be really smart."

Veteran councilmembers Mark Hughes and Tom Campbell, however, said they may feel uncomfortable voting to extend their own terms.

"I don't think it's going to save a lot of money, and there's potential for ill will with voters," Campbell said.

"I need to hear more information," Hughes said. "It could be perceived as self-serving."

Council elections are staggered. If approved this year, the change would mean that Hughes and council member Alan Schwartzman would not finish their terms until 2014; Strawbridge, Campbell and Mayor Elizabeth Patterson -- whose terms are set to expire in 2015 -- would serve an extra year until November 2016.

City Clerk Lisa Wolfe and City Treasurer H.R. Autz also would serve extended terms to 2016.

Schwartzman and Patterson have shown support for the change -- mainly to help trim election costs.

Unlike in neighboring Vallejo, Benicia's elected officials are not under term limits.

State law allows cities to change election dates so long as the change is approved by the county board of supervisors. Changing the election date also may not increase or reduce the term of office for any elected official by more than 12 months.

For more than a century, Benicia's city elections were held on the second Monday of April in even-numbered years. That changed in 1995 when the city consolidated municipal elections with the statewide primary.

In 1997, however, the council voted 4 to 1 to move local elections to November of odd-numbered years to establish a more predictable election timetable, split costs with the school district and focus voter attention on local candidates. As a result, council members elected in 1994 and 1996 had their terms reduced by months.

Among the local school districts, Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield-Suisun, Travis, Vacaville and Vallejo hold odd-year elections. River Delta Unified, Davis Joint and Winters Joint school districts hold them in even years.

Changing the date for the municipal election to coincide with the statewide general election would save cash, city officials say, and may increase voter turnout.

According to Solano County Registrar of Voters Office estimates, the city would save as much as $20,000 per election by switching to the statewide general election calendar. Benicia's cost for odd-year elections ranges from about $30,000 to $50,000.

Any savings, however, would vary depending on the number of other Solano County cities, school districts and jurisdictions on the ballot. The total election cost is dispersed based on the number of voters in each jurisdiction.

Vallejo and the Vallejo City Unified School District have also shown an interest in changing election dates to even years. However, a vote of the people would be required in Vallejo because it is a charter city. No such voter approval would be required in Benicia.